Interview with Thomas Russell, October 19, 2017
Project: John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project
Interview Summary
Thomas Banister Russell is a Senior District Judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.In this interview, Judge Russell discusses his career as a civil litigator from 1970 to 1994, his nomination to the federal bench, and his judicial career since 1994. Topics include notable cases, the legal culture in western Kentucky, sentencing, his approach to managing cases and his courtroom, and his experience as a judge on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. He also reminisces about Judge John G. Heyburn II, as both a friend and colleague.
Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1945, Judge Russell grew up in Glasgow, Kentucky and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967 from Western Kentucky University. He received his Juris Doctor in 1970 from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Thereafter, Russell developed a private practice in Paducah from 1970 to 1994.
On September 14, 1994, Russell was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky vacated by Edward Huggins Johnstone. Russell was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 1994, and received his commission on October 11, 1994. He took senior status on November 15, 2011. In 2015, he became one of 13 federal judges appointed to the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. In 2016, Russell was appointed to the Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
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Paducah, Kentucky Western District Court of Kentucky Federal judges Civil litigation Criminal sentences Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Courts (FISA Court) Gender equality Fogel, Jeremy, 1949- Federal Judicial Center Courtroom proceedings Summary judgments Mandatory sentences Conwood v. U.S. Tobacco Co. Conwood Co. v. U.S. Tobacco Sales United States of America v. Waad Ramadan Alwan United States of America v. Steven D. Green Bank robberies Johnstone, Edward H., 1922-2013Interview Rights
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Russell, Thomas Interview by Anu Kasarabada. 19 Oct. 2017. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Russell, T. (2017, October 19). Interview by A. Kasarabada. John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Russell, Thomas, interview by Anu Kasarabada. October 19, 2017, John G. Heyburn II Initiative for Excellence in the Federal Judiciary Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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